Best College Laptops

HP Laptops For Less

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Laptops have been growing in popularity over the past few years, with sales that can exceed desktop computers. While laptops were once less powerful than a typical home computer, most now have full-capabilities, with internet access, security features, and the memory capacity to run standard programs. Many laptops also boast DVD-R drives, making them portable entertainment centers as well. With all of the convenience and mobility that laptops offer, it’s not surprising to see how commonplace they have become.

Though the decision to buy a laptop may be easy, deciding which brand and where to buy the laptop is a different matter. HP, or Hewlett-Packard, is one of the leading brands in laptops, with a focus on user-friendly, yet powerful computers.

Their top-selling models include the HP Pavilion Entertainment Laptop, the compact HP ProBook Notebook, the HP EliteBook Tablet PC with swiveling screen, and the HP Business Notebook. Each model is tailored to suit a variety of needs, from move-watching to mobile business applications. While HP laptops can range in capabilities, they also range widely in price.

The best place to start shopping is to find a reputable merchant with laptops on sale. The first instinct when shopping for a particular brand of laptop is to go directly to the manufacturer, which can wind up as complicated as it is costly. Most “big box” stores can offer more competitive pricing on laptops, and nearly all will offer HP laptops on sale. Savvy consumers can also shop online for deals, with many websites specializing solely in computer merchandise or on overstocked models.

Refurbished computers are another underappreciated source of inexpensive laptops. Many merchants will sell popular HP laptop models that have been previously owned, but completely overhauled back to their original factory conditions. When researching different HP laptops, have a good idea of what the laptop will primarily be used for. While it may be tempting to purchase a more inexpensive model, the laptop may be lacking desirable features that will later be more costly to add.

Alternatively, some upgrades may be more inexpensive to purchase and install separately. Advanced video or sound cards and additional memory can be cheaply purchased alone and installed by most novice users. Realistically assess the difficulty of self-installation versus the cost of the manufacturer’s upgrades to find the best solution. Keep in mind that many adjustments can void the laptop’s warranty, adding to costs in case of future problems.

Though laptops have become as powerful as desktop computers, they need not be as expensive. With a little research before buying, it’s simple to find the perfect HP laptop for the latest applications with the smallest budget. Always compare merchants and never be afraid to ask for price-matching when a better deal is available. One great price is all it takes to make shopping for a laptop user-friendly.

Choosing The Best Laptop For College Students

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Editors note: This post was submitted by one of our readers; Marc JH

It can be a daunting task these days to decide the best laptop for college students. Are the more expensive ones better? In a lot of cases, it may not be so true. For most college students, cheaper is going to be better. And, with todays disposible socitey, this is a good rule of thumb for laptops.

The average college laptop will only have a life of a few years at best. Let’s face it, that can of soda that dumped into it sure didn’t help to extend that life any. Neither will the fall off the table at the Student Union Building. So look for a good, tough laptop that does not cost a fortune, as you will probably need to replace it at least once before your college career is over.

A new trend is to go with a Netbook, or an ultra small version of a laptop. And there are good and bad points on these. One, the lower price is a good incentive to check them out. And the smaller, lighter size is another good point. But most of them do not have CD/DVD drives. So using any type of software is out of the question unless you can access it online too. And the smaller screen on a killer crunch study night could get to be annoying as well. It is probably better to go with one of the smaller screens on a regular laptop.

There are also some very light and very well equiped best college laptops out there that come with a hefty price for their portability. These are high-end models, that will cost a considerable bit more. There again, you will have to make the final decision on what you are willing to spend, and these loaded laptops are wonderful, but the price is a concern, and if you are looking at possibly replacing it half-way through your college experience is that going to be worth it, having enough memory to download half the documents in the free world, or play the latest, most graphics intense version of a video game? Really, do you NEED 1,000 songs on there? Get a smaller, less costly version for your college classes, and get that big old beast after you graduate!

Most of the budget laptops are bulkier, and do not have alot of the features that will allow you to be a gamer on them, but if you are just looking for a basic laptop to take to and from class and use for your studies, there are some GREAT deals out there. Check the “Bigbox” stores, as well as online sites, as they will often put out internet-only deals that can save you a ton of cash! Watch the advertisements, and go to stores and look around. See what is out there, and make notes of the ones that you might be interested in. Start a little bit before you need it, like at least a month before you go to school, so that you can price shop, and get the laptop and get it set up and ready to go and be familiar with it before you have to use it in earnest.

One thing that I think I would avoid however is purchasing a USED unit. Those can be tricky. Even if they are certified that they are refurbished, do you really want to take a chance on that laptop with ALL of your term paper in it crashing and dying? I think that new would be the best choice here. Yes, new ones can crash too, but you do get tech support for usually one year, so there is at least a hope that you might can recover something.

Deciding the best laptop for college students really has to depend on the student and the budget that they are willing to put out there! Deals can be had, it takes a little effort, and you have to keep your eyes on the prize. Go for lower costs, and less bling, and you will have a nice little unit that will serve you well! Good luck, and happy shopping!

Reader Question: What do YOU look for in a college laptop? What features are important to you?